"Handcrafted Chocolate Worth the Splurge Max Chocolatier, a boutique chocolate shop in the heart of Lucerne, creates exquisite hand-made chocolate that is meant to be savored. The store is located on a high-end shopping street near the lake. While I normally don't gravitate to "fancy" chocolate boutiques, something about this place beckoned. It is an intimate shop and the friendly staff is happy to explain the types of chocolate that best suit your preferences. Max Chocolatier uses local, 100% natural ingredients, so the chocolate products vary by season: there are spring, summer, fall and winter "collections" with different ingredients and recipes. In addition to basic chocolates (milk, dark, hazelnut, caramel, orange, etc.), there are also more exotic types with ingredients such as pumpkin, chili, and edelweiss providing some international flavor. Beautifully, lushly-packaged boxes of chocolate line the shelves. Clearly these sweet tidbits are lovingly crafted to please all your senses. While not inexpensive, each small bite delivers a rich, intense taste with a luxurious mouth-feel. Well worth it! www.maxchocolatier.com"
Absolutely amazing customer care ( big big big shoutout to Mia who was so patient and kind while helping us and answering our questions) and phenomenal interiors on the store. We got a box of 8 ( pick and choose) some of them being the Arhuaco, Elvesia, Baumnuss Marzipan, Feige etc. Amazing in taste and something that you definitely want to indulge in time and again.
Grabbed a hot chocolate as well on the way out and it was amazinnggggg!!
Don’t be shy and give them a try!!
Brandon F
Google
Excellent experience at this store. The staff were friendly and the chocolate was fantastic. We got there after the drink window closed for the day so we went back the following day for more chocolate and drinks (hot chocolate and iced matcha latte). Everything was so rich and tasty, some of the best chocolate I’ve had! Plus the store has a great origin story. Highly recommend.
Cynthia Robins
Google
First time in Switzerland and happened upon the best chocolate store!
Eva and Paulo were so friendly and informative. The story of how it all began is touching. Highly recommend a visit and purchase of fantastic chocolate!
Robert Harris
Google
It was very fun to talk to the shop workers who gave an enlightening experience forever ruining inferior domestic chocolate. Recommend: taste single source chocolate samples and hear the story of Max.
Maggie J
Google
We stopped by the Max boutique after taking the chocolate making and tasting class at the event and design studio. We wanted to stock up on treats to take home!
The gentleman behind the counter was so friendly and helpful and was delighted to hear that we had just come from the tasting. He gave us several additional chocolates to try in an attempt to surprise us with something we had missed at the tasting.
My husband got an affogato and we bought a couple of boxes of dark chocolate to take home and enjoy. I especially recommend the strawberry and lime dark chocolate truffles and the cherry hazelnut.
Esther Margonin
Google
Max Chocolatier is a charming boutique with beautifully crafted pralines. The flavors are unique and refined, and the prices are very affordable for the quality. The staff were patient and very friendly, making the visit an absolute pleasure.
chantal hanna
Google
A must try when visiting luzern !
Handmade chocolate made with finest ingredients 👏
suchitra ganesh
Google
We had one of the finest chocolate tasting experiences of our lifetime. Bonus points for a great vegan selection and for ethically sourced cacao. Brigitta was amazing and made our experience warm and wonderful. I will not share details of the tasting since this should be experienced in person. Simply superb. Can't wait to come back in a different season! Much love from Canada.
Maggie J.
Yelp
We stopped by the Max boutique after taking the chocolate making and tasting class at the event and design studio. We wanted to stock up on treats to take home!
The gentleman behind the counter was so friendly and helpful and was delighted to hear that we had just come from the tasting. He gave us several additional chocolates to try in an attempt to surprise us with something we had missed at the tasting.
My husband got an affogato and we bought a couple of boxes of dark chocolate to take home and enjoy. I especially recommend the strawberry and lime dark chocolate truffles and the cherry hazelnut.
Art D.
Yelp
Good chocolate, but.....Lousy e-commerce provider. Two separate orders of expensive chocolate were sent to two separate destinations, both arrived melted, poor presentation - calls / emails to vendor went unacknowledged, no apology, accommodation, nada- DO NOT ORDER THEIR PRODUCTS FOR INTERNATIONAL SHIPMENT.
E L.
Yelp
I was in Lucerne and ordered the Chocolate making class and tasting for my sister as a birthday gift. it was extremely disappointing. they charged us for 4 people as that was the minimum number of people even though there were 2 of us....$657! it was to last 2 hours but rushed us through in an hour and 15 mins. the class was pouring melted chocolate in a bar mold and sprinkling a topping on it! no instruction! the tasting was a few filled chocolates and pushed out the door. I complained and was told they were shocked as we met the owner and told him how delighted we were! total lie! we were shown a picture of him and his son but never met or saw him. said we would receive a refund but it never appeare. beware! chocolate is very good but "class" and tastings are a rip off.
Rod U.
Yelp
As a foodie, you say Switzerland, I say chocolate. The Swiss are rightfully proud of their chocolates as witnessed by receiving them at the end of every meal.
Max Chocolatier is perhaps one of the best, artisanal, producers in the country. A small shop in Luzern producing 100 percent natural, handmade, using seasonal ingredients that captivate. Up for a truffle filled with an intense walnut marzipan over a bed of nutty nougat all coated in bitter sweet Madagascar chocolate?
Need some alcohol for lightness? How about one filled with butter cream impregnated with Urs Hecht Williams pear liqueur. An explosion of pear flavor and richness that contrast beautifully with its chocolate surrounding.
A true expression of Switzerland? An assortment of alpine herbs (none of which I've ever heard of but together having that delicious Ricola taste) surrounded by the chocolate Switzerland made famous, milk chocolate. The chocolate mellows the herbs into one delicious bite.
"Squares" are equally intriguing. Flavored caramel surrounded by different types of chocolate. The chestnut with its intense chestnut puree caramel surrounded by milk chocolate; incredible as is the raspberry puree caramel surrounded by dark Madagascar chocolate.
Finally the Brunsli. Swiss brownies coated in chocolate. Mind-blowing! Chocolate on chocolate with well controlled sweetness. Heaven.
Note: All chocolates are perishable and must be consumed within a few weeks. Do not refrigerate or freeze. Don't worry, you'll likely eat them all within a few hours.
A tasting and chocolate making class are offered. See website for details.
Very enthusiastic service.
Outstanding in every respect and worth the many thousand calorie splurge.
Marcelle M.
Yelp
Delicious chocolate, great presentation, very expensive. I believe there are only two stores, this one and in Zurich
Caitlin L.
Yelp
We stopped in this shop while wandering through Lucerne. The shop is cozy and inviting with a large selection of chocolates to choose from. The shop attendant was very helpful in assisting us choose our custom assortment of handmade chocolate. The hot chocolate and coffee we got was delicious and the perfect pick me up after walking in the cold weather.
Sonia P.
Yelp
If you love chocolate, you need to try Max Chocolatier!
Friendly knowledgeable staff and amazing Swiss chocolates.
The chocolate is high-end and 100% natural!! If you are looking for something very special to give to your loved ones or for yourself this is the place.
And the chocolate is produced above the small store. How amazing ist that??
A must try if you visit Lucerne!
Qype User (desser…)
Yelp
It's the best chocolaterie in any German-speaking canton of Switzerland. Their secret is simple: They use the best ingredients available, including premium spice and world-class Felchlin Grand Cru couverture. Solid craftsmanship and a surprising amount of creativity then turn these ingredients into perfect, very luxurious pralines and truffles.
The chocolates are sold in a unique boutique environment, a one-of-a-kind experience. The boutique's design is a first-rate example of an accomplished fusion of excellent interior design meeting consistent visual merchandising. As a marketing specialist and a chocoholic, it was love at first sight (or bite).
They don't make mistakes, but they're good for surprises, including the only curry and pineapple praline I've ever had. They make these ridiculously addictive, bestselling chocolate bars with a biscuit bottom and a raspberry jelly filling - there's no more enjoyable way to destroy your diet in one bite, because you'll be hooked!
Luxury isn't free, but you won't go back to the mass-produced rubbish put out by lesser outfits like Läderach and their ilk.
Great saleswomen who are both friendly and technically well-informed, which is rare. I hate it when a salesperson doesn't even know which couverture the chocolatiers are using!
They're reopening the shop in autumn, since their head chocolate genius (Fabian Rimann) is leaving them to set up shop on his own. I'll write about it on http://www.dessertblog.ch as soon as possible.
Kat B.
Yelp
The best chocolate shop of all in town. Get raspberry anything or try their seasonal flavors. We were greeted, given a sample and the chocolates were explained to us by the staff in English. Though spendy I ate an entire box right away and brought some home for the family! Though the signage is hard to see it's right on the main waterfront road.
Cheryl J.
Yelp
We had a chocolate making and tasting your scheduled by our travel agent. What an experience! We were late due to our other activities and they were generous enough to take us in and give us the full experience. Their detailed explanations of processes and flavors was interesting and fun. We went to another chocolate making tour and although we enjoyed it, it did not compare. Service and experience was five star.
Mindy H.
Yelp
As I was walking down the main street in Lucerne with the high end watch shops I passed by this place thinking it was a jewelry store, however, my friend stopped and wanted to go in, and I realized it was a high end handmade chocolate shop. Their slogan was, "experience chocolate for the first time". Upon entering the store it definitely was the first time that I had experienced chocolate in this way, as if I had entered a high end jewelry boutique. On the right hand side of the store was a very well put together modern display highlighting each chocolate and even provided an English translation. On the left hand side was the beautiful glass case filled with their specialty chocolates. There was one person in the store who was very helpful and friendly. I bought a few pieces and they wrapped the chocolates in a special box with a lovely bag, I felt like I had just bought jewelry. I almost forgot, I got so wrapped up into the experience of buying the chocolate, that I almost forgot to mention that the chocolate itself is good as well. :)
Peter S.
Yelp
I agree with the previous reviewer that this seemed more like a high-end jewelry shop than a local chocolate boutique. As I had limited time in Lucerne, I wasn't able to compare all the various chocolate shops, but this one sure seemed expensive in comparison to some of the other shops located near the covered bridge. Beautiful arrangement of chocolates, and they certainly were very good, but I'm not sure if this is what people think of when they are looking for genuine local chocolates.